System and method for storing and accessing digital media content using smart card technology

ABSTRACT

A system and method for delivering digital media content to a user over a network is disclosed. The illustrative embodiment of the present invention enables multiple types of electronic devices to access the same digital media content for the same end user through the use of a smart card equipped with a license for the digital media content. Depending on the format of the digital media content, devices such as phones, pagers, internet appliances or PDAs can be used to present the digital media content to a user, as can traditional consumer electronic devices such as DVD players and VCRs. The encrypted content may be freely transferred and stored without copyright concerns since the decryption key is generated by the smart card containing the license.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a division of, and claims the benefit of, co-pendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/227,811 filed Sep. 14, 2005, titled,“System and Method for Storing and Accessing Digital Media Content UsingSmart Card Technology,” which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/817,631, filed on Mar. 26, 2001, now U.S. Pat.No. 7,016,496 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the downloading of digitalmedia content over a network, and more particularly, to the downloadingof encrypted digital media content over a network to an electronicdevice interfaced with a smart card equipped with a decryption key.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Digital media content delivery systems are in a transition period. Thetraditional method of delivering digital media content to a user throughthe use of physical storage mediums, such as a DVD disc or VHS tape, isundergoing change. The newer model of delivery stresses offsite storageof digital media content with delivery of the digital media contentdirectly to a user over the Internet or other communications network.The advent of broadband delivery systems capable of delivering digitalmedia content is expected to hasten this trend. However, the delivery ofdigital media content in a virtual non-physical form to the end consumercauses a number of problems, including problems relating to copyrightprotection.

One of the problems caused by the delivery of digital media content overthe Internet is that the end user of the digital media content does nothave a tangible physical object to possess. This makes the marketing ofthe digital media content to the end consumer a more difficultproposition. Additionally, the delivery of digital media content overthe Internet raises a number of issues regarding the subject of illegaluse and illegal copying of the digital media content. If the digitalmedia content being transferred over the Internet in not in encryptedform, it may be quickly copied and used by unintended recipients. If thedigital media content is encrypted, the encryption key is confined tothe electronic device receiving the digital media content and thedigital media content therefore becomes restricted to being rendered onthat device. Both issues are currently limiting the willingness ofconsumers to acquire digital media content over the Internet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the issues raised by the current methodsof delivering digital media content over networks, such as the Internet.The illustrative embodiment of the present invention enables multipletypes of electronic devices to access the same digital media content forthe same end user through the use of a smart card equipped with alicense for the digital media content. Depending on the format of thedigital media content, devices such as phones, pagers, internetappliances or PDAs can be used to present the digital media content to auser, as can traditional consumer electronic devices such as DVD playersand VCRs. The encrypted content may be freely transferred and storedwithout copyright concerns since the decryption key is generated by thesmart card containing the license. The smart card acts as a physicaltoken that can be physically transferred or sold. The illustrativeembodiment of the present invention further provides additionalpresentation possibilities for certain types of digital media contentover what would be available to an end user using traditional physicalmedia storage. Specifically, the present invention allows the smart cardto bookmark or set a reference point, at the point where a user stopsaccessing a stream of digital media content. The user is able tocontinue viewing the stream of digital media content from the point ofthe bookmark when the user subsequently accesses the stream of digitalmedia content.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is practicedwhereby digital media content is delivered over a network in encryptedform to an electronic device interfaced with a smart card. A cipher isextracted from the digital media content, combined with a session orelectronic device produced cipher and forwarded to the smart card. Thesmart card generates a decryption key and forwards it to the electronicdevice. The electronic device takes the decryption key generated by thesmart card and uses that key and an embedded key from the electronicdevice to decrypt the digital media content. The decrypted digital mediacontent may then be presented to the user. The smart card monitors thelocation in the stream of digital media content being presented to theuser and bookmarks the location where the stream stopped being presentedto the user. The smart card thereafter enables access to the stream ofdigital media content at the bookmarked location.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a method ispracticed whereby digital media content is delivered over a network inencrypted form to an electronic device interfaced with a smart card. Acipher is extracted from the digital media content and forwarded to thesmart card. The smart card generates a decryption key and forwards it tothe electronic device. The electronic device takes the decryption keygenerated by the smart card and uses that key to decrypt the digitalmedia content. The decrypted digital media content may then be presentedto the user. The smart card monitors the location in the stream ofdigital media content being presented to the user and bookmarks thelocation where the stream stopped being presented to the user. The smartcard thereafter enables access to the stream of digital media content atthe bookmarked location.

In another embodiment of the present invention a second smart card isutilized. In this alternative embodiment digital media content isdelivered over a network in encrypted form to an electronic device. Acipher is extracted from the digital media content and forwarded to thesecond smart card. The second smart card generates a new cipher inresponse to the original cipher and sends the new cipher to the firstsmart card. The first smart card generates a decryption key in responseto the new cipher and forwards the decryption key to the electronicdevice. The second smart card also forwards a decryption key to theelectronic device. The electronic device takes the two decryption keysgenerated by the smart cards and uses them as well as a decryptionalgorithm stored on the electronic device to decrypt the digital mediacontent. The decrypted digital media content may then be presented tothe user. The smart card monitors the location in the stream of digitalmedia content being presented to the user and bookmarks the locationwhere the stream stopped being presented to the user. The smart cardthereafter enables access to the stream of digital media content at thebookmarked location.

In a separate embodiment of the present invention, a second smart cardis also utilized. In this embodiment, digital media content is deliveredover a network in encrypted form to an electronic device. A cipher isextracted from the digital media content and forwarded to the firstsmart card. The first smart card generates a decryption key in responseto the cipher and forwards the decryption key to the electronic device.A cipher is extracted from the digital media content and forwarded tothe second smart card. The second smart card generates a decryption keyin response to the cipher and sends the decryption key to the electronicdevice. The electronic device takes the two decryption keys generated bythe smart cards and uses them as well as a decryption algorithm storedon the electronic device to decrypt the digital media content. Thedecrypted digital media content may then be presented to the user. Thesmart card monitors the location in the stream of digital media contentbeing presented to the user and bookmarks the location where the streamstopped being presented to the user. The smart card thereafter enablesaccess to the stream of digital media content at the bookmarkedlocation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a block diagram depicting a network environment suitable forpracticing the illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 1B is a flow chart showing an overview of the steps involved intransferring digital media content to the user in the embodiment of FIG.1A;

FIG. 2A is a block diagram depicting a network environment suitable forpracticing a separate embodiment of the present invention utilizing onesmart card and a decryption algorithm;

FIG. 2B is a flow chart showing an overview of the steps involved intransferring digital media content to the user in the embodiment of FIG.2A;

FIG. 3A is a block diagram depicting a network environment suitable forpracticing a separate embodiment of the present invention utilizing 2smart cards connected to one another;

FIG. 3B is a flow chart showing an overview of the steps involved intransferring digital media content to the user in the embodiment of FIG.2A;

FIG. 4A is a block diagram depicting a network environment suitable forpracticing a different embodiment of the present invention utilizing 2smart cards not connected to each other; and

FIG. 4B is a flow chart showing an overview of the steps involved intransferring digital media content to the user in the embodiment of FIG.3A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The illustrative embodiments of the present invention enable multipletypes of electronic devices to access the same digital media content forthe same end user through the use of a smart card, hereafter referred toas “media card”, equipped with a decryption key and license for thedigital media content. Depending on the format of the digital mediacontent devices, such as phones, pagers, internet appliances or PDAs canbe used, as can traditional consumer electronic devices, such as DVDplayers and VCRs. The user is freed from having to view the digitalmedia content on the original electronic device as is the case withconventional methods of viewing decrypted digital media data. A userpossesses a media card containing a license which evidences the right ofthe user to use the digital media content. The media card acts as aphysical token that can be physically transferred or sold along with thelicense and decryption key. The media card also allows a user tobookmark or set a reference point, at the point where a user stopsaccessing a stream of digital media content. The user is able tocontinue viewing the stream of digital media content from the point ofthe bookmark when the user subsequently accesses the stream of digitalmedia content.

FIG. 1A depicts a network environment suitable for practicing theillustrative embodiment of the present invention. Digital media content2 is stored on a storage medium 4. The storage medium 4 is located on aserver 6 which is interfaced with the network 8 or other communicationnetworks, such as wireless networks, proprietary computer networks, etc.An electronic device 10 with a network interface is connected to thenetwork 8 and to a smart card reader 12. The smart card reader 12contains a bay for the insertion of the media card 14. Those skilled inthe art will realize that there are many possible network configurationsthat may be used in practicing the present invention.

The digital media content 2 may include, but is not limited to, audiofiles (such as a music CD), video files (such as a collection ofgraphical images), or it may be an audio-video files (such as a movie,typically found on a DVD or VHS tape). Other types of digital mediacontent 2 include computer programming code, JavaScript, Java, HTML,etc. Additionally, the digital media content 2 may include large amountsof text data. The media card 14 used in the present invention is capableof being connected with a smart card reader 12 to any one of a number ofdifferent types of electronic devices 10. Because different types ofelectronic devices are capable of decrypting the digital media contentstream, when using the decryption key, the same digital media content 2may be presented to the user in many different ways. The digital mediacontent 2 is sent out in encrypted form, it may be transferred from oneelectronic device 10 to another without concerns about copyrightviolations. Without the encryption key contained on the media card 14,the digital media content cannot be accessed.

The storage medium 4 contains different groups of digital media content2 in encrypted form. By distributing digital media content over theInternet to end consumers, distributors of digital media content 2 areable to lower their distribution costs by not having to distributedigital media content in physical form. Additionally, since the digitalmedia content 2 is encrypted, the distributor can distribute the contentto anyone requesting the content from the server 6 without bothering tocheck if the requesting party is entitled to the digital media content.Anyone requesting the digital media content 2 without a decryption keywill not be able to use the digital media content. Thus, the distributorof the digital media content 2 is able to focus on efficientlytransmitting the information without bothering with any sort ofverification of the requesting party.

The media card 14 is capable of tracking the current position in thestream of digital media content 2 being output by an electronic device10. In the event the user is watching a movie through an electronicdevice 10 which is connected to the smart card reader 12 and the mediacard 14, and the user stops watching the movie prior to its ending, theplace the user stops is bookmarked on the smart card. At a later time,the user can return, place the media card 14 back in the smart cardreader 12 connected to the electronic device 10 and continue watchingthe movie from the marked place in the stream of digital media content2. This ability to denote or bookmark a spot in the stream of digitalmedia content 2, is an ability present in VHS tapes but not for instancein DVD videos. Alternatively, the user can return to a differentelectronic device 10, have the electronic device download the movie theuser had previously been watching, and resume watching the movie at thesame place where the user had previously left off watching the movie.The bookmark is portable from one electronic device to another.Additionally, a second software license and decryption key to adifferent group of digital media content may be purchased and downloadedto the media card 14. The bookmarks on the media card may keep track ofdifferent places in different streams of digital media content 2. Inthis manner, it is possible for multiple users to maintain bookmarks onthe same media card 14 to the same or different groups of digital mediacontent 2.

FIG. 1B depicts the sequence of events that take place following theinsertion of a media card 14 in the smart card reader 12. The electronicdevice 10, which is connected to the smart card reader 12, requests thedigital media content 2, such as a movie, be downloaded to it over thenetwork 8 (step 16). The server 6 containing the storage medium 4 andthe digital media content 2 sends the digital media content to theelectronic device 10 over the network 8 upon receiving a request (step18) from the electronic device. The digital media content delivery maybe in response to an HTTP request, or the delivery may be the result ofa CGI script or servlet executing on the server. The electronic device10 extracts a cipher from the digital media content 2 and combines thecipher with a cipher produced by the electronic device 10 or from thecurrent device session (step 20). The combined cipher is sent to themedia card 14 (step 22). The media card 14 calculates the correctresponse to the cipher and transmits the solution to the electronicdevice 10 (step 24). The electronic device 10 uses the solution and anembedded key to decrypt and play the digital media content 2 (step 26).Once the digital media content 2 has been decrypted, the electronicdevice 10 may present the digital media content to a user of theelectronic device in any form that the electronic device is capable ofpresenting to a user.

In an alternative embodiment depicted in FIG. 2A, the media card and adecryption algorithm are used to decrypt the digital media content 2which is delivered over a network 8 from a server 6 to an electronicdevice 10. The media card 14 is connected to the electronic device 10.The electronic device 10 also contains a decryption algorithm which isused in combination with the media card 14 to decrypt the digital mediacontent 2.

The sequence of steps followed by the alternative embodiment is listedin FIG. 2B. The electronic device 10 sends a request for digital mediacontent 2 to the remote server 6 (step 34). The server 6 sends thedigital media content 2 to the electronic device 10 over the network 8(step 36). The electronic device extracts a cipher from the digitalmedia content 2 and sends it to the media card 14 (step 38). The mediacard 14 generates a decryption key (step 40) and sends the decryptionkey to the decryption algorithm 30 located in the electronic device 10(step 42). The decryption algorithm 30 uses the decryption key todecrypt the digital media content 2 which may then be presented to auser.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the process ofencrypting/decrypting the digital media content 2 may be accomplished ina number of different ways. The decryption key may be dynamicallygenerated using a multiplier, such as the day of the month.Alternatively, the decryption key may be a fixed decryption method thatuses a dynamic offset, such as the day of the month, which is added to afixed index. The data may be encoded as single bits, groups of bits, orin combinations of single and grouped bits. The illustrative embodimentsof the present invention do not depend upon any one particularencryption/decryption method.

In a separate embodiment depicted in FIG. 3A, two smart cards are used,the media card 14 and a second smart card 48, both of which connect tothe electronic device 10. The electronic device 10 also contains adecryption algorithm 30 which is used in the decryption of the digitalmedia content. A server 6 which holds digital media content 2 is alsoconnected to the electronic device 10 through a network 8.

The sequence of steps followed by the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3A islisted in FIG. 3B. The electronic device 10 sends a request for digitalmedia content 2 to the remote server 6 (step 50). The server 6 sends thedigital media content 2 to the electronic device 10 over the network 8(step 52). The electronic device extracts a cipher from the digitalmedia content 2 and sends it to a second smart card 48 (step 54). Thesecond smart card 48 generates a new cipher and sends it to the mediacard 14 (step 56). The media card 14 generates a dynamic decryption key(step 58). Both the media card 14 and the second smart card 48 senddecryption keys to the decryption algorithm 30 stored on the electronicdevice 10 (step 60). The decryption algorithm 30 uses the decryptionkeys to decrypt the digital media content 2 (step 62). The electronicdevice 10 may then present the digital media content 2 to a user.

In a different embodiment depicted in FIG. 4A, two smart cards are used,the media card 14 and a second smart card 48, both of which connect tothe electronic device 10 but do not transmit data to each other. Theelectronic device 10 also contains a decryption algorithm 30 which isused in the decryption of the digital media content. A server 6 whichholds digital media content 2 is also connected to the electronic device10 through a network 8 connection.

The sequence of steps followed by the embodiment of FIG. 4A is shown inFIG. 4B. The electronic device 10 sends a request for digital mediacontent 2 to the remote server 6 (step 64). The server 6 sends thedigital media content 2 to the electronic device 10 over the network 8(step 66). The second smart card 48 generates a decryption key and sendsit to the decryption algorithm 30 stored on the electronic device 10(step 68). The electronic device 10 extracts a cipher from the digitalmedia content 2 and sends it to the media card 14 (step 70). The mediacard 14 generates a decryption key and sends it to the decryptionalgorithm 30 (step 72). The decryption algorithm 30 uses the decryptionkeys to decrypt the digital media content 2 (step 74). The electronicdevice 10 may then present the digital media content 2 to a user.

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention allows an end userwho has purchased the media card 14 containing the license anddecryption key to transfer the media card either by selling it orlending it to other people. This ability to transfer the physical itemof the media card 14 while still retaining the distribution system ofdownloading digital media content 2 over the Internet addressescopyright concerns and greatly increases the efficiency of distributionon the part of the digital media content supplier. The illustrativeembodiment ensures that the party receiving the digital media content 2is likely authorized to receive the digital media content. The tangiblepresence of the media card 14 allows the license to be purchased andsold as a product by retailers to consumers.

It will thus be seen that the invention efficiently attains the objectsmade apparent from the preceding description. Since certain changes maybe made without departing from the scope of the present invention, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in aliteral sense. Practitioners of the art will realize that the networkconfigurations depicted and described herein are really examples of themultiple possible network configurations that fall within the scope ofthe current invention.

1. A method for delivering digital media content to a user, said methodfor use with a network, said network interfaced with a storage mediumcontaining digital media content and further interfaced with anelectronic device, said method comprising the steps of: providing asmart card that includes a license for said digital media content;sending a request for said digital media content over said network fromsaid electronic device; receiving from said storage medium in responseto said request said digital media content in encrypted form for storageon said electronic device, wherein said request is not verified;extracting a cipher from said digital media content; combining saidcipher with a second cipher produced by said electronic device to obtaina combined cipher; sending the combined cipher to said smart card;obtaining a decryption key for said combined cipher, said decryption keybeing computed using the combined cipher and transmitted from said smartcard to said electronic device; and using said decryption key and anembedded key located on said electronic device to decrypt said digitalmedia content stored on said electronic device.
 2. The method of claim1, further comprising the step of: presenting said digital media contentto said user.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:limiting said license to said digital media content so that saiddecryption key stops working after a pre-defined number of uses.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising the step of: limiting said licenseto said digital media content so that said decryption key stops workingafter a pre-defined period of time.
 5. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising the step of: denoting as a reference point on said smart carda place in a stream of digital media content where said user stopsaccessing said digital media content.
 6. The method of claim 5, furthercomprising the steps of: sending a second request for said digital mediacontent over said network from a second electronic device; receivingfrom said storage medium in response to said second request said digitalmedia content in encrypted form for storage on said second electronicdevice, wherein said second request is not verified; extracting a thirdcipher from said digital media content, said third cipher being combinedwith a fourth cipher produced by said second electronic device into asecond combined cipher and sending the second combined cipher to saidsmart card; obtaining a second decryption key for said second combinedcipher, said second decryption key being transmitted from said smartcard to said second electronic device; and using said second decryptionkey and a second embedded key located on said second electronic deviceto decrypt said digital media content stored on said second electronicdevice, wherein said reference point on said smart card is used toresume said digital media content on said second electronic device atthe place in the stream of digital media content where said user stoppedaccessing said digital media content on said electronic device.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising the step of: denoting as referencepoints on said smart card each place in a stream of digital mediacontent where each one of a plurality of users has stopped accessingsaid digital media content.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein saiddigital media content is audio.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein saiddigital media content is video.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein saiddigital media content has both audio and visual components.
 11. Themethod of claim 1 wherein said digital media content contains text. 12.A method for delivering digital media content to a user, said method foruse with a network, said network interfaced with a storage mediumcontaining digital media content and further interfaced with anelectronic device, said method comprising the steps of: providing asmart card that includes a license for said digital media content;sending a request for said digital media content over said network fromsaid electronic device; receiving from said storage medium in responseto said request said digital media content in encrypted form for storageon said electronic device, wherein said request is not verified;extracting a first cipher from said digital media content; generating,in said electronic device, a second cipher from the current devicesession; combining, in said electronic device, said first cipher andsecond cipher into a combined cipher; sending said combined cipher tosaid smart card; obtaining a decryption key for said combined cipher,said decryption key being transmitted from said smart card to saidelectronic device; and using said decryption key and an embedded keylocated on said electronic device to decrypt said digital media contentstored on said electronic device.
 13. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising the step of: limiting said license to said digital mediacontent so that said decryption key stops working after a pre-definednumber of uses.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the stepof: limiting said license to said digital media content so that saiddecryption key stops working after a pre-defined period of time.
 15. Amethod for delivering digital media content, said method for use with anetwork, said network interfaced with a storage medium containingdigital media content and further interfaced with an electronic device,said method comprising the steps of: providing a smart card for storingdecryption keys for digital media content; storing, in response to auser purchase of digital media content, a decryption key for saiddigital media content on said smart card; sending a request for saiddigital media content over said network from said electronic device;receiving from said storage medium in response to said request saiddigital media content in encrypted form for storage on said electronicdevice, wherein said request is not verified; extracting a cipher fromsaid digital media content; generating, in said electronic device, asecond cipher from the current device session; combining said cipherwith said second cipher to obtain a combined cipher; sending thecombined cipher to said smart card; obtaining said decryption key inresponse to said combined cipher, said decryption key being transmittedfrom said smart card to said electronic device; and using saiddecryption key and an embedded key located on said electronic device todecrypt said digital media content stored on said electronic device. 16.The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of: presenting saiddigital media content to said user.
 17. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising the step of: limiting a license to said digital media contentso that said decryption key stops working after a pre-defined number ofuses.
 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:denoting as a reference point on said smart card a place in a stream ofdigital media content where said user stops accessing said digital mediacontent.
 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:storing, in response to a purchase by said user of a second digitalmedia content, a second decryption key for said second digital mediacontent; and denoting as a second reference point on said smart card aplace in a stream of said second digital media content where said userstops accessing said second digital media content.
 20. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising the step of: denoting as reference pointson said smart card each place in a stream of digital media content whereeach one of a plurality of users has stopped accessing said digitalmedia content.